On Tuesday I had the pleasure of wearing the Deputy Lord Mayor’s chain for the official launch of Front Line’s photographic Exhibition.

Front Line is the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. Front Line was founded in Dublin in 2001 with the specific aim of protecting human rights defenders at risk, people who work, non-violently, for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Front Line aims to address some of the needs identified by defenders themselves, including protection, networking, training and access to international bodies that can take action on their behalf. Front Line seeks to provide rapid and practical support to at-risk human rights defenders, including through a 24 hour emergency response phone line, and to promote the visibility and recognition of human rights defenders as a vulnerable group. Front Line runs a small grants program to provide for the security needs of defenders. Front Line mobilizes campaigning and lobbying on behalf of defenders at immediate risk. In emergency situations Front Line can facilitate temporary relocation. Front Line conducts research and publishes reports on the situation of human rights defenders in specific countries. The organization also develops resource materials and training packages on behalf of human rights defenders as well as facilitating networking and exchange between defenders in different parts of the world. Front Line promotes strengthened international and regional measures to protect human rights defenders including through support for the work of the UN Special Representative on Human Rights Defenders. Front Line seeks to promote respect for the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

Kieran’s Speech:

Ladies and gentlemen. In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit; these men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles Underground. Today still wanted by the government they survive as soldiers of fortune, if you have a problem if no one else can help and if you can find them, then maybe you can hire the A-Team.

 As a child growing up in the 80’s I loved the A-team, they were defenders of everything good and were my heros for many years. the A-team fuelled my imagination – The principal characters all had valuable traits – Hannibal for his ideas, BA for his strength, Murdock for his quirkyness and Face for acquiring the missions and finance

For many of us, defenders of human rights are Hollywood heros or Hollywood icons – we see the stories through the medium of television or film. However, as my own life’s journey progressed I was brought to education and community programmes and I discovered new heros of the uncelebrated kind – those that stand up for their local community.

But in every corner of the world as noted by Front Line there are heros – human rights defender. There is the unsung hero not living in an action programme or action movie but living in very real life situations striving forward, pushing inch by inch, making a difference – providing a sense of belief and confidence in campaigning for rights and a better world and future

Society needs heros, defenders; it needs leaders who will justly rule and provide as many opportunities for development as possible. The individuals highlighted in the photographic exhibition are just a sample if the hundreds of human rights defenders around the world who put their lives on the line in defence of others.

 HEROS

Heroes are special – they are if you break the letters to reflect ideas – you get words like h for honourable – they stand for something, some important value of human nature.

E is for energy – their energy is usually enormous – charged with ambition, courage and dedication to defend a cause, to make a difference.

R is for the realism that heros debate, write and champion.

Perhaps O is the onus presented to us to listen, empatise and do our part to support a just hero.

 Too often we’re quick to take down the one that steps forward to help to lead.  But in the world we live in we need more good leadership than what appears in several countries in the world.

To defend life requires much energy  – life itself whether physical or on some imaginative plain is complex – sometimes the lines are blurred with participants not knowing any better.

 I welcome this exhibition which challenges us all to  think about all our futures and debates concerns and issues on life itself – what are we doing in our lives to make a difference?

By nature photographs (Mark Condren’s work) has the power to stop the viewer, impress, make one question, wonder, dream, remember, be disturbed, explore and not forget.

 I wish to congratulate all involved in the production of this exhibition and encourage one and all to keep going, plough on and strive for solutions.

Thank you